Carronade

Carronades were naval cannons with short barrels and thus short range. The weighed less than cannons or culverins, required fewer crew to operate and fired (generally) heavier cannonballs over much shorter distances. They were called 'smashers' because they smashed wood into deadly splinters rather than punching straight through, and were quite effective at the short ranges of most naval battles. They rode on a sled without wheels and were elevated by a turnscrew rather than a wedge. #cannon #Carronade #smasher